Ethics complaint filed over Defense Secretary Hegseth’s Iowa State Fair fundraiser with Rep. Nunn

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing an ethics complaint filed by a group of former national security officials who are questioning if his August appearance at U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn’s Iowa State Fair fundraiser violated federal ethics restrictions.

The Steady State, a nonpartisan organization comprised of 430 former national security, intelligence, diplomatic, military and law enforcement officials, asked the U.S. Office of Special Counsel Friday to investigate whether Hegseth violated the Hatch Act during his appearance supporting Nunn on Aug. 17, 2026.

Hegseth joined Nunn at the JR’s Southpork Ranch at the Iowa State Fair for “Operation Top Nunn: Salute to the Troops.” The Fair fundraiser was a rescheduled event, as Hegseth was originally supposed to join Nunn in Iowa in March. The March event was cancelled shortly after two Iowa soldiers were killed in an Iranian strike on a Kuwait facility on March 1.

At the fundraiser, Hegseth said, “according to the lawyers, I’m only here in a personal capacity today.” But those with The Steady State argue the Defense Secretary’s appearance could violate the Hatch Act, a longstanding federal law that limits partisan political activities for federal employees.

One of the prohibitions in the Hatch Act bars Cabinet members from using their authority or influence to impact the results of an election. The complaint asks the OSC to investigate whether Hegseth violated this rule and used his position as defense secretary “by invoking his position, his Department’s budget request, and his access to the President while urging the audience to return the incumbent to Congress,” according to the complaint.

At the fundraiser, Hegseth rallied support for Nunn’s reelection as he faces Democratic Iowa Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott for the 3rd District seat.

“President Trump needs the type of leaders who understand why a $1.5 trillion dollar budget, a one-time generational investment, is what is necessary to ensure that my kids and your kids, that your grandkids and my grandkids, live in a free country, defended by the most powerful military in the world,” Hegseth said, calling for Iowans to vote for Nunn.

The complaint also calls for the investigation of whether Hegseth’s trip involved the use of government funds. A news release on the complaint references a social media post from a Washington Post reporter that stated while a Pentagon official said Hegseth traveled to Iowa in his personal capacity, “because of Hegseth’s role, he used taxpayer-funded military aircraft for the trip.”

Information about the travel — including what government resources were used, whether travel costs were reported under the Federal Election Campaign Act or were reimbursed and the itinerary of Hegseth and the aircraft — was requested by The Steady State to be part of the OSC investigation. The Steady State emphasizes the complaint “does not assert that reimbursement did not occur,” according to a news release.

A Pentagon official reiterated in a statement that Hegseth attended the event in Iowa in his personal capacity, adding, “Department staff are not involved in, nor privy to, the details of events that Secretary Hegseth attends in his personal capacity. Therefore, we have no comment.”

Nunn’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment on the complaint. But Democrats argue Nunn should provide more answers about the event and Hegseth’s involvement.

Zach Schenkman, Trone Garriott’s campaign manager, said in a statement, “the reporting on Zach Nunn and Pete Hegseth’s fundraiser continues to unearth new questions that Zach Nunn needs to answer.”

“Who paid for that flight? Did Pentagon lawyers sign off before the Secretary of Defense got on a stage and asked donors to send Zach Nunn back to Washington?” Schenkman said. “Iowans paid for that plane one way or the other, and they are owed an answer.”